Technology

Technology Tools & Keyboarding

Cool Tech Tools

Portrait Illustration Maker - create your own avatar
10 Great Photosharing Services - good information and comparisons
Webspiration - "Think visually. Work Collaboratively. Anywhere. Anytime." Site stores your work.
Show Yourself - Combine your online profiles into one widget
Word Clock - could make a cool screen saver
100 Helpful Tools for Every Kind of Learner
Tag Crowd - Create your own tag cloud from any text to visualize word frequency.
Wordl - Another tag cloud creator that allows you to change fonts, layouts, and color schemes.
Tagxedo - like Wordle, but a step farther as text can be used to build cool images
xtranormal - text to movies, fun!
School Clip Art - Lots of copyright free images
Free School Clipart - copyright free clip art and animations
PPPST - scroll down for lots of free images
Me and My Movie - online filmmaking community where you can learn how to make your own films, etc.
TypoGenerator - enters text and then click "generate" to see it change into a graphical design...fun!
Foldplay - Make your own kaleidocycles, moving paper sculptures that turn in an endless cycle
Down for Everyone or Just Me - Wondering why a site doesn't work? Just paste the url into this site to find out if it is just you or everyone.
artPad - Express yourself! Nice drawing tool.

Coding Apps

Cool Image Tools

Keyboarding

Here are the relevant Common Core standards for keyboarding from Ask the Tech Teacher:

• Keyboarding is addressed tangentially–saying students must be able to type * pages in a single sitting (see CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.6 for example. The ‘pages in a single sitting’ starts in 4th grade and continues through 6th where it’s increased to three–see CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.6)
• By 3rd grade, Common Core also discusses the use of keyboarding to produce work, i.e., CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.6 which specifically mentions ‘use technology to produce and publish writing (using keyboarding skills)’
• The keyboarding requirement that is giving teachers across the continent heartburn is that keyboarding will be required to take Common Core Standards assessments.

Online typing course by Good TypingRegister for free using email address to access the good stuff
Dance Mat Typing12 levels of typing practice from BBC Schools
Free Typing GamesLet us know which ones you like!
Keyboarding Practice More Keyboarding Practice
Keyboarding More Keyboarding
Typing tutorials, exercises, tests, and games - many great links for keyboarding practice and reinforcement
Learn Touch Typing Free - learn and improve your speed, savable results! Highly recommend!
Common Core and Keyboarding - Blog post explaining 2 types of keyboarding: formal and real world. Also, shares ad free sites.
Typing Club - Recommended. SMMA uses this site for assessments

Internet Safety**

Surf Swell Island Learn about Internet safety and manners by playing this fun game

Wired KidsInternet Safety Information for Kids
Wired SafetyInternet safety info for kids, tweens, and teens
NetSmartz TeenFor teens, keeping you safe on the Internet
NetSmartz KidsKids Internet safety games and activities
That's Not Cool - Where do you draw your digital line?
I Keep Safe - games and much more